Realizing Einstein’s Dream

Exploring Our Mysterious Universe

A Slide Show

Presented as prelude to public lecture

James Brau

World Year of Physics

May 19, 2005, University of Oregon

1

One thing I have learned in a long life: that all our science, measured against reality, is primitive

and childlike

—and yet it is the most precious thing

we have.

The most beautiful experience we can

have is the mysterious.

It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the

cradle of true art and true science.

I think and think for months and years.

Ninety-nine times,

the conclusion is false.

The hundredth time

I am right.

2

The grand aim of all science is to cover

the greatest number of empirical facts by

logical deduction from the smallest

number of hypotheses or

axioms.

When I examine myself and my

methods of thought,

I come close to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive

knowledge.

A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life

are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must

exert myself in order to give in the same

measure as I have received and am still

receiving.

When a man sits with a pretty girl for an

hour, it seems like a minute.

But let him sit on a hot stove for a minute—and it’s longer than

any hour.

That’s relativity.

The whole of science is

nothing more than a refinement of everyday

thinking.

It is the supreme art of the teacher to

awaken joy in creative expression

and knowledge.

In so far as the statements of

geometry speak about reality, they

are not certain, and in so far as they are certain,

they do not speak about reality.

It is not enough that you should understand about applied science in order

that your work may increase man’s blessings.

Concern for the man himself and his fate must always

form the chief interest of all technical endeavors.

Make everything as simple

as possible, but no

simpler.

CREDITS

Images and support from

• Anglo-Australian Observatory• Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory• Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory• Goddard Space Flight Center• Jodrell Bank Observatory• LIGO (Caltech and MIT)• London Symphony Orchestra,

Gustaf Holst, The Planets, “Venus, the Bringer of Peace”• National Aeronautics and Space Administration• National Science Foundation• Office of Science, Department of Energy• Space Telescope Science Institute• Stanford Linear Accelerator Center• University of Oregon

Produced by James Brau

May 19, 2005